Major city · South Korea
Goyang고양
Base in Ilsan for 2 nights if you want KINTEX, the lake park and the flower festival; otherwise day-trip from Seoul on GTX-A, about 17 min from Kintex to Seoul Station.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- KRW
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon rain and heat), late Jan–Feb (cold)
- Airports
- GMP · ICN
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- South Korea ↗Check K-ETA and visa status on the official sites before you fly; the list of nationalities exempted from registering online changes year by year.
- South Korea ↗Google Maps gives poor walking and driving directions in Korea; use Naver Map or Kakao Map for routes.
- South Korea ↗Buy a T-money card (or use a phone-based transit pass) for subway and buses; it also pays at convenience stores and many taxis.
Goyang is a planned satellite city of over 1 million people north-west of Seoul, split between Ilsan (lake park, KINTEX, Lafesta) and Deogyang (Haengju Sanseong, Starfield). It is not a sightseeing city: it works as a cheap, quiet base with fast GTX-A links to Seoul, or as a day trip for the lake park and the May flower festival. Two nights is enough; most visitors pass through in a day.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Goyang, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cards work almost everywhere, including taxis, convenience stores and many market stalls; carry ₩30,000–50,000 (≈ US$25–40) in cash for street food…South Korea-wide
- SIM or eSIMSK Telecom, KT and LG U+ sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at airport arrivals; a passport is required, and data-only plans are cheapest.South Korea-wide
- Tap waterOfficially safe from the tap; most people drink filtered water, and restaurants serve it free.South Korea-wide
- TippingRestaurants and cafés: No tip; a service charge appears only in top hotels.South Korea-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.South Korea-wide
- SafetyVery safe by any standard: violent crime is rare and the streets are busy late.
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in every subway station; paper goes in the toilet in new buildings, in the bin where a sign asks.South Korea-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 1330 (≈ under US$1) Travel helpline (24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysPalaces close one weekday (Gyeongbokgung Tuesday, others mostly Monday); national museums open daily but close on 1 Jan, Seollal and Chuseok days.South Korea-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckGMP Gimpo International (One stop from Goyang on the Seohae line metro; about 20–30 min to Ilsan by metro with a transfer (check).).
- Getting aroundMetro Line 3, the Gyeongui-Jungang line and the Seohae line cross the city, with GTX-A (from Kintex) reaching Seoul Station in about 17 min.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee in a café₩4,000–7,000 (≈ US$3–6)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxi₩8,000–11,000 (≈ US$6–8)
- Metro or bus ride₩1,400–1,800 (≈ US$2)
- Museum or sight ticketAquarium entry (Aqua Planet Ilsan)₩39,000 (≈ US$30)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person₩25,000 (≈ US$18)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room₩95,000 (≈ US$70)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room₩180,000 (≈ US$130)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₩60,000 (≈ US$45) · Mid ₩100,000 (≈ US$75) · High ₩180,000 (≈ US$130)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- GMP Gimpo International (One stop from Goyang on the Seohae line metro; about 20–30 min to Ilsan by metro with a transfer (check).) · ICN Incheon International (AREX to Gimpo then the Seohae line, or an airport bus; allow 1.5–2 h to Ilsan and check the last connection if you land late.)
Weather and climate
Goyang: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
2°C36°F
−9°C16°F
6 rd
Feb
6°C43°F
−6°C21°F
6 rd
Mar
12°C54°F
−1°C30°F
7 rd
Apr
19°C66°F
6°C43°F
8 rd
May
25°C77°F
11°C52°F
9 rd
Jun
29°C84°F
17°C63°F
10 rd
Jul
30°C86°F
21°C70°F
16 rd
Aug
31°C88°F
22°C72°F
14 rd
Sep
27°C81°F
16°C61°F
8 rd
Oct
21°C70°F
8°C46°F
6 rd
Nov
12°C54°F
1°C34°F
7 rd
Dec
4°C39°F
−6°C21°F
6 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Metro Line 3, the Gyeongui-Jungang line and the Seohae line cross the city, with GTX-A (from Kintex) reaching Seoul Station in about 17 min. Local buses stop roughly every 500 m, so buses beat the metro for short hops inside Ilsan. Taxis are metered and cheap for 5–10 min rides.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 30–50 min
GTX-A from Kintex to Seoul Station, or Line 3 to central Seoul
GTX-A is the fast option; Line 3 is slower but drops you closer to the palaces.
Door to door: About 1–1.5 h
Metro to Gimpo then the Seohae line or AREX, or a direct bus (check the route)
Combine with Chinatown and the port if you have a spare day.
Suwon
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Metro to Seoul then Line 1 or KTX from Haengsin
Doable, but Hwaseong Fortress deserves more than a rushed half day.
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Metro via Seoul, two or three changes
No clear reason to cross the city for it from Goyang.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Ilsan / Jeongbalsan
Around Jeongbalsan station (Line 3): lake park, Lafesta, Western Dom and most hotels within a 10-min walk.
KINTEX / Daehwa
Best if you are attending a trade show; Daehwa station and the GTX-A stop at Kintex put Seoul 20–30 min away.
Hwajeong / Deogyang
Cheaper, more local; Line 3 and the Gyeongui-Jungang line serve Deogyang-gu, 30–40 min to central Seoul (check which station is nearest).
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₩60,000–90,000 (≈ US$45–65) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₩90,000–150,000 (≈ US$65–110) excl. bed
- High
- ₩150,000 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × ₩95,000 | ₩190,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₩100,000 | ₩400,000 |
| Airport bus or AREX plus metro, both ways2 × ₩12,000 | ₩24,000 |
| T-money card plus a day of metro and bus rides2 × ₩8,000 | ₩16,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₩15,000 | ₩30,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₩66,000 |
| Trip total≈ ₩181,500 per person per day, bed included | ₩726,000≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in won; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee in a café | ₩4,000–7,000 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Korean BBQ per person | ₩15,000–30,000 (≈ US$11–25) |
| Convenience-store lunch | ₩4,000–8,000 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Metro or bus ride | ₩1,400–1,800 (≈ US$2) |
| 5 km taxi | ₩8,000–11,000 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Aquarium entry (Aqua Planet Ilsan) | ₩39,000 (≈ US$30) |
| Flower festival single ticket | ₩8,000 (≈ US$6) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Goyang is spread out and low-rise: budget 30–50 min door to door between Ilsan and Deogyang.
- The lake park is open all day but most lighting goes off around 01:00.The lake park is open all day but most lighting goes off around 1:00 AM.
- Aquarium and theme-park tickets are cheaper online than at the gate; check the official site before you go.
- Summer downpours in July–August can flood underpasses and cancel outdoor events.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Travel helpline (24 h, English)
- 1330
Pocket card
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Goyang고양
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
이 주소로 가 주세요To this address, please
Emergency
- Police112
- Fire and ambulance119
- Travel helpline (24 h, English)1330
Embassy
Most embassies are in Seoul; the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all keep their missions there, about 40–60 min by metro.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- GTX-A Kintex → Seoul Station: about 17 min
- Metro Ilsan → central Seoul: about 40–60 min, ₩1,500–2,000 (≈ US$2)
- Taxi Jeongbalsan → KINTEX: ₩8,000–12,000 (≈ US$6–9), about 15 min
Say or show
- 안녕하세요 — Hello (annyeonghaseyo)
- 감사합니다 — Thank you (gamsahamnida)
- 얼마예요? — How much is it? (eolmayeyo)
- 카드로 돼요? — Can I pay by card? (kadeuro dwaeyo)
- 역이 어디예요? — Where is the station? (yeogi eodiyeyo)
- 이거 주세요 — Please give me this (igeo juseyo)
Tipping is not expected. Emergency numbers are free from any phone.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Goyang. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon rain and heat), late Jan–Feb (cold) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialGoyang city official site
- officialIlsan Lake Park (city parks site)
- officialKINTEX
- officialGoyang Bus Terminal
- officialKorail (Haengsin station)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Goyang, revision 5218573 (CC BY-SA 4.0)